Lobos start fast; hold on for 3-2 win over UNLV
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team got out to a quick start offensively with three first-half goals but had to stave off a furious second half rally by UNLV in order to come away with a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon out at the UNM Soccer Complex.
The three goals in the game against the Rebels (3-9-0, 0-4-0 MW) marked the third-straight time that the Lobos (7-4-0, 3-1-0 MW) have scored three goals. All three of those games have come in Mountain West play and all three have been wins as the Lobos are currently on a three-game winning streak.
In the game on Sunday, the Lobos wasted little time at all scoring their first goal as Jadyn Edwards found the back of the net in the 10th minute for her third goal of the season. The goal was setup by a spectacular run down the near sideline by Leilani Baker.
Facing one defender, Baker employed a spin touch to create room and raced down the sideline. After bringing the ball into the box, Baker played the ball back to middle and top of the box for Edwards. Edwards then created just enough space to get off a right-footed shot that was just out of the reach of the Rebels’ goalkeeper as it banged off the bottom of the crossbar and in the net for the goal.
10′ | GOAAALL! Leilani Baker makes a move and gets the ball to Jadyn Edwards who takes it to the net! Lobos lead UNLV 1-0. #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/QFJfYm3o17
— Lobo Women’s Soccer (@UNMLoboWSoccer) October 6, 2019
Just over four minutes later, UNLV tied the game at one-all on a penalty kick by Katie Ballou in the 14th minute.
In the 22nd minute, Baker put the Lobos back on top as she found the back of the net for her team-leading fourth goal of the season. On Baker’s goal, she once again used a nifty maneuver near midfield to create space after she received a long pass by Jessie Hix. Baker then easily blew past her one defender to set up a 1v1 opportunity on the goalkeeper. Baker brought the ball just outside the six-yardline and used her left foot on the shot to guide it in goal. The shot was touched by the Rebels’ goalkeeper, but Baker’s shot had enough pace that the touch did not alter the ball’s course out of the goal.
22’| GOAALL! Baker with the left-footed shot gives the Lobos a 2-1 lead over UNLV! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/QvxsqYd7pv
— Lobo Women’s Soccer (@UNMLoboWSoccer) October 6, 2019
Five minutes after that, Jessie Hix gave the Lobos a two-goal advantage as she played a perfect right-footed flick shot off a ball sent into the box by Alexa Kirton. The goal was the third of the season for Hix and the 17th of her career. She is now tied for fifth-most in program history with Lana Melendres (1996-99).
27’| GOAALL! Jessie Hix registers a goal of her own off of a solid assist from Alexa Kirton. Lobos lead the Rebels 3-1. #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/a4r2gx4L55
— Lobo Women’s Soccer (@UNMLoboWSoccer) October 6, 2019
The Lobos would carry that 3-1 lead into the locker room.
Coming out of the break, UNLV ramped up the pressure on the Lobos’ defense and took three shots within the first five minutes of the second half. The first came 24 seconds in and made Malia Vanisi make a save.
In the 53rd minute, the Lobos had a chance to go up three goals as Alesia Garcia took a penalty kick. Her shot hammered the crossbar to keep it a 3-1 game. Just three minutes after that, momentum swung to UNLV as Jadyn Nogues scored off a corner kick to make it a one-goal game at 3-2.
The Rebels continued to apply pressure from there looking for the equalizing goal, but ultimately, Vanisi and the Lobo defense held strong to preserve the one-goal win.